A BUSINESSMAN who set up the world famous Pukka Pies company from premises in Earl Shilton, has died.

Trevor Storer, who started the company in the town in 1964 with his wife Valerie, has died at the age of 83.

The business started off as Trevor Storer’s Home Made Pies in 1963 but after a year his wife Valerie came up with the name Pukka Pies.

Mr Storer produced 1,200 meat pies in the first week and company turned over £12,000 in the first year.

Now the firm, which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary, employs 300 people in Syston and sells 60 million pies worldwide.

Mr Storer, who died at home last Wednesday, was born in Leicester in July 1930. He left Alderman Newton School when he was 16.

After completing his national service, he returned to the family bakery but his father and uncle sold the business to Allied Bakeries in 1960.

He worked as a trainee general manager and wrote a book, Bread Salesmanship. But he gave up the lucrative position to strike out on his own.

His two children Andrew and Tim, who are both managing directors, now run the company.

Pukka Pies is a brand leader in both the multiples and food on the go market. They supply a range of pies and pasties to thousands of fish and chip shops and supermarkets as well as serving football stadiums, pubs, cafes and university campuses across the country. Pukka Pies also export worldwide.

A Pukka Pies spokesman said: “Trevor Storer’s founding values were putting quality and care first, selecting only the finest ingredients. He also made job security a central objective and ran the company with integrity. These values remain core to the Pukka Pies culture today.

“Trevor Storer was fair and considerate and polite to all he dealt with and is remembered by all who knew him as a true gentleman.”

The office at the factory in The Halfcroft is filled with cards offering messages of sympathy.

A memorial service will be held at 11am tomorrow at St Peter’s Church, in Belton in Rutland.

Mr Storer is survived by his widow, two sons and daughter Susan, plus seven grandchildren.

Donations in his memory can be sent to the Alzheimer’s Society through the funeral directors AJ Adkinson, of London Road, Oadby, on 0116 271 2340.